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Quick Quilt Binding

June 22, 2010

Binding your quilt is the LAST step in creating a quilt! There are several ways to bind a quilt, and this is one of the FASTEST ways because there is no blind stitching (by hand) involved. Also, in this method you don’t need to cut and prepare binding strips. Instead, extra fabric from the back of your quilt will be folded around to the front of your quilt top and fastened by sewing a straight stitch with your sewing machine. You will need about 1.5 inches of extra backing fabric around the perimeter of your quilt top.

Below is a quick and simple 5-step binding tutorial:

Step 1
As shown below, cut any excess batting material from your quilt sandwich (FYI for any newbie’s, a quilt sandwich consists of the quilt top, batting, and backing fabric in that order – batting is the fluffy stuff sandwiched between the quilt top and backing fabric).

Step 2
Using a ruler and marker, mark 1.25 inches on the backing fabric around the perimeter of your quilt top (shown below).

Step 3
As shown below, use fabric scissors to cut along the line you marked from Step 2. This will result in 1.25 inches of backing fabric around the perimeter of your quilt top.

Step 4
Fold the backing fabric in half lengthwise (shown in 1st picture below). Next, fold that over onto your quilt top and pin to keep in place (shown in 2nd picture below). Do this around your entire quilt. I placed pins every couple of inches.

When you get to the corners, follow steps 1 and 2 (below) for folding and pinning all corners:

Fold the corner over so the edge of the binding is aligned with the quilt top.

With the corner folded over, fold the backing fabric in half lengthwise. Then, fold that over onto your quilt top and pin in place.

Step 5
As shown below, sew a straight stitch along the edge of the folded binding. Remove the pins as you sew. You can also sew a zig-zag stitch instead of the straight stitch.

And that’s all there is to it! Quick and simple : ) Let me know if you have any questions.

This is sooooo fantastic!!! So simple!I finished my first quilt a couple os months ago and put it on a shelf because I was afraid of batting and backing it. Your explanation is so clear that I definitely feel up to it now.Thanks for sharing.

It sounds so simple, and yet I'm still afraid. I've got my quilt top sitting…waiting to be made into something more. But I have tons of excuses why it's not done yet…so maybe it can wait a bit longer. 🙂 But when I DO get to it, this info will help.

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!! I just completed my very first quilt! Followed this tute for the Binding, and your cuttin' corners tute at the bake shop for the quilt. I used squares from a Tranquility layer cake by Sandy Gervais, and the quilting was done with a walking foot (Since I don't have a darning foot)and inspired by film in the fridge: http://www.filminthefridge.com/2009/09/22/another-fall-quilt-the-mini-version/Ahhhh, I feel so good, I just want to stare at it all folded up and pretty!

Missavene – thanks so much for your comment! It made my day :)This type of thing is why I started my blog. I'd love to see a picture of your quilt and do a blog post on it – if you get this, send me a photo at quiltingintherain@gmail.com Hope to hear from you!

I just started quilting and started with a table runner – the binding was the thing that I'm just not doing well. Thank you so much for this – I can't wait to try it. It also takes the stress out of trying to match up something to use for the binding when you can just use the backing!

Your bindings are incredible. The binding has been a nightmare for me. This is the best method I've found after hours & hours of searching, and several classes. Now I can finally finish my daughter's denim quilt. Thanks for sharing your talents with us.

Jera, I think you just saved my quilting career, such as it is! I tried my first quilt and made a mess of the binding… this looks so much easier, I cannot wait to try it. Thank you, thank you, thank you…. you are so talented, and I really appreciate you sharing these tutorials with us!

Recently tried this on a quilt for a friend and this technique worked so well! I used a stitch slightly more decorative than zigzag and it looked much more professional than I was afraid of. If anything, it added a nice look to the overall quilt. I don't think I'm going back to making binding strips and hand-sewing the binding to the back anymore. Thank you so much for sharing!

I am making a quilted blanket for my daughter with the Eric Carl fabric (Brownbear, brown bear) on top and the backing is a very soft bubble velour. Would this method work? Or should I make a simple baby blanket instead?Wonderful ideas on your blog.Thanks,Sabine

Great tutorial! The binding is a very important part of a quilt. I did this style on my very first quilt because I did not know how to bind any other way and it turned out nice. (not quite as neat as yours tho)

Now THAT makes sense!! I've been stuck rereading instructions that I just could not figure out!! You have made it so clear for me. Now I can't wait to bind my next project. Thank you sooooo much. Woodlandbeauty

This is the first time I have seen someone else use this…I have been doing this for about 4 years for the cancer center quilts I make, the patients need to be able to wash and dry these quilts as many times as needed and the secure stitching makes that possible. Great to see others use this method 🙂

Took one quilting class over 25 years ago. Never did it again until this week. Thank you so much for the easy method. Completed a wall hanging. First one ever. This was to display a Counted Cross Stitch piece I had done in 1987. Now it is in the Center of my Wall Hanging Quilt.

Thanks so much for the great tutorial! I make quilts with the ladies from my church to donate to the local CASA chapter and I've stuck to rag quilts because I *HATE* binding! I made a scrappy trip around the world quilt to donate and ended up with a good amount of backing fabric and found your tutorial…SUCCESS! It worked like a charm, and I have lost my aversion to binding!

This method also saves time and fabric by not having to cut binding, fold the strips, sew the strips to the front, hand sew the binding to the back. I think that the backing should be just as interesting as the front of the quilt and using the backing as the binding makes an excellent frame for the front. Nice tutorial. Thanks.

I’m so happy I saw this post. I have a project I’ve been putting off finishing because I wasn’t crazy about dealing with binding. This is going to be the perfect way for me to finish off my project. Many thanks!

Hello!

My name is Jera Brandvig and I'm from the rainy city of Seattle. I am a quilter, author and fabric designer but first, I am a proud mother to two beautiful boys (& a furry little girl named Paige!). Click me to read more. Thank you for stopping by! ;)